The best iced coffee makers, tested to see if they're worth a spot in your kitchen

Telegraph

24-04-2025

With warmer weather incoming, now's the time to master how to make iced coffee at home. It's surprisingly simple to make in your kitchen for a fraction of cafe prices and coffee machines increasingly come with a cold-brew function or steam-free frothing, making it even easier to switch from hot to iced lattes.
In theory, you can use any coffee to make iced coffee: pod machine coffee, bean-to-cup espresso or even instant. But since ice dilutes the mix, a full-flavoured brew is essential. As award-winning coffee expert Ben Lewis, aka Barista Benji, explains, you need to act fast to minimise dilution: 'I apply some of the same principles as cocktail making. I'll stack the cup with ice before adding any coffee, then quickly add the ingredients.'
You might also want to include specialist coffee syrups, as iced coffee lacks the sweetness of steamed milk and sugar doesn't dissolve easily in cold liquid.
I tried eight different products to find the best iced coffee makers, including automatic coffee machines, a milk frother and even cold brew bottles. Prices start from just £27 and you'll find brands including Ninja, Delonghi and Grind below.
The best iced coffee makers: At a glance
How to choose the best iced coffee maker for you
There's much to consider when it comes to choosing a coffee machine; they vary enormously in size and price and the latest iced coffee makers for use at home employ a wide range of different brewing techniques.
Some machines are designed to dispense hot coffee directly over ice, while others use low or no heat methods, such as slow and low-tech cold infusion – these are probably not the best picks for a quick caffeine hit but may appeal to serious coffee connoisseurs.
At the other end of the scale, some bean-to-cup coffee machines offer dedicated cold coffee settings and steam-free milk frothing for fabulous iced lattes in minutes. Ultimately, the maker that's best for you will depend not just on your favourite style of coffee but on how long you're willing to wait for it to brew, the space you have available in your kitchen and your budget.
How we test iced coffee makers
I tested a wide range of coffee makers, from simple infusion bottles to fully automatic bean-to-cup machines which offer the latest in cold-extraction technology. I considered how simple each one was to operate and the time it took to dispense a brew. I factored in the practicalities, such as how easy they were to refill and keep clean, as well as how noisy my morning coffee was to make. I also considered the design and materials with which each machine was made.
I used the same coffee beans and grounds in every coffee maker, opting for the delicious House Blend from Grind and scoring each maker on the range and quality of the coffee it delivered.
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The best iced coffee makers of 2025
1. Best Buy Iced Coffee Maker: Ninja Luxe Café
This manual Ninja coffee maker is great if you enjoy taking your time to craft an impressive brew. It offers extensive customisation, with 25 grind sizes and four different froth styles (for different milks), so you can fine-tune every aspect of your coffee, including brew strength and temperature.
This solidly built machine has a chunky stainless steel jug for milk frothing and a simple illuminated display, controlled by buttons and dials. The settings are straightforward and the screen guides you through each stage – for example, once you've dialled in your choice of brew, the display indicates the recommended grind size – letting you achieve great results without barista skills.
As well as hot espresso, there are chilled coffee settings for cold brew, cold pressed coffee and an 'over ice' option, delivering concentrated hot coffee that stands up to ice dilution. If, like me, you find texturising milk tricky, you'll be pleased to know that the frother is automatic, taking the pressure off creating a top-tier micro foam. There's a self-purging wand for steaming hot milk and a fantastically effective whisk attachment for cold foam.
I scored the machine highly from a practical point of view. The water tank is a generous two litres and the bean hopper, positioned at the front of the machine, takes the stretch out of refilling. The coffee tamper and funnel slot into one side of the machine and there's a clever accessories compartment on the other for cleaning brushes and spare filter baskets. Many of the parts, including the drip tray components, water tank and even the bean hopper, are dishwasher safe.
This machine takes the headache out of creating great coffee while allowing you to learn-on-the-go and improve your barista skills with every cup. It's brilliant value too, out-performing far pricier models.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Iced Coffee Maker: Instant Cold Brewer
Traditional cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. This extended brewing time lets the coffee extract slowly, resulting in a smoother, less acidic and more full-bodied flavour.
Instant's cold brewer is designed with the usual high quality and functionality we've come to expect from them. It's attractive and well made, consisting of a glass jug with a steel brew basket and strong lid – all of which are dishwasher-safe.
It's simple to operate and spin-brews cold coffee (or tea leaves) using its 'FlashExtract' technology to agitate the grounds or tea leaves and extract the maximum flavour in under 20 minutes. While slow-tech cold brew bottles may deliver the best results, this is a brilliant option if you enjoy cold brew but don't always have time to plan ahead.
While you might argue that an instant coffee machine can't technically produce a true cold brew, this machine can most certainly create a delicious-tasting cold coffee. And at £79, it's excellent value for such a high quality piece of kit.
Key specifications
3. Best Iced Coffee Maker for Cold Brew: Grind Cold Brew Bottle
A simple infusion bottle such as this one by Grind is the easiest way to make a true cold brew. There's little skill involved, but you will need to plan ahead as the process takes between eight and 24 hours using time rather than heat to bring out the flavours in your coffee.
It's a method I enjoy using as I love the smoothness of the resulting coffee. Preparing the bottle only takes a couple of minutes and during the summer months, I make it part of my morning routine. The bottle is filled with cold water, the coffee grounds are spooned into a stainless steel filter basket, which is gently lowered into the water and left to infuse slowly in the fridge. Once the coffee has brewed, it can be kept in the fridge ready for you to enjoy on demand. The bottle and parts are entirely dishwasher safe and Grind even makes iced coffee cups if you want to enjoy your drink on the go.
As a rule, Barista Benji suggests a ratio of 1:10, so 100g of coffee grounds per litre of water, explaining that: 'By increasing the amount of coffee in the water, you can add more body to the drink; however, this can sometimes be overpowering. Finding a good balance is key.' Grind recommends just 50g of coffee grounds per litre, which after 12 hours of infusing, made a strong enough brew for my taste buds.
Key specifications
Type: Coffee grounds
Capacity: 1 litre
4. Best Automatic Iced Coffee Machine: Delonghi Eletta Explore
Score: 9/10
We like: The speed and ease
We don't like: It's a little noisy
This Italian-made, bean-to-cup coffee maker offers all the styles you'd expect to find on an automatic machine, such as a flat white and a cappuccino. Unlike others, however, it also offers cold extraction – the machine cools itself down with a rinse, then slowly brews the coffee. Though the dispensing temperature wasn't truly cold (29C according to my thermometer), its steady three minute drip into a glass of ice resulted in a wonderfully smooth coffee with noticeably less dilution than when using hot espresso.
This machine is also capable of frothing milk without steam, with a recommendation for skimmed and dairy-free alternatives. I tried it with the regular semi-skimmed in my fridge and still got excellent results. If there's any remaining milk in the carafe, it can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days and it's conveniently dishwasher-friendly. The machine automatically rinses when switched on and off, so it's a good idea to keep a small jug positioned under the spout to save you from frequently emptying the drip tray.
The design is well thought out with a good-sized water tank to the side and a large bean hopper, keeping refills to a minimum. The spout slides up and down to accommodate a range of cup sizes, including the tall to-go insulated cup it comes with.
The digital display is simple to use. Scroll through the wide range of preset drink options and make modifications, save favourites or individual user profiles. Once your coffee is ready, the machine displays a jolly message such as 'This is my best one yet!' There's also an accompanying app.
It's also worth noting that the brand's Rivelia Automatic Coffee Machine is compatible with a clever Latte Crema Cool Upgrade Set that enables the machine to create an additional range of six iced coffees.
Key specifications
5. Best Iced Coffee Maker for On The Go: Hario Cold Brew Coffee Filter in Bottle
Similar in design to the Grind bottle, this glass bottle has a silicone lid and stopper. The bottle is slightly narrow and a little taller, while the filter basket is nylon rather than stainless steel. This may not affect the filter's functionality, but it detracts from an otherwise stylish appearance. The white mesh may also discolour a little over time.
The filter basket is lidded, which means the coffee can be poured into a glass without the need to remove the filter from the bottle. And as the coffee is already chilled, your cold brew can be served straight or over ice.
A cold brew bottle is a brilliant option for taking into work, making it easy to swerve the coffee shop queues and save a few pounds. Just fill it up before bed and you're all set to go come the morning. This design comes in various sizes and a beautiful array of contemporary shades, including deep teal and cranberry red, making it as visually appealing on your breakfast table as it is in a picnic basket or work bag.
Key specifications
6. Best Cold Milk Frother: Drew & Cole Barista Frothiere
The Frothiere is a small and easy-to-use milk frother that makes a great partner for using alongside a coffee pod machine or coffee pot. Unlike some other frothers, which specialise in warming the milk while whisking, this machine can also handle cold milk.
Two whisk attachments let you choose from foamy or smooth textures, although you'll need to cool your espresso before adding to the frother in order to avoid warming the milk. Alternatively, add your choice of black coffee to an ice-filled glass and top up with the whisked milk. It's not the quickest, taking around three minutes, but it couldn't be easier to operate.
Key specifications
Type: Prepared coffee
Size: 18.3 x 17.4 x 11.2cm
Weight: 1.14kg
Capacity: 0.2 litres
7. Best Iced Coffee Maker for Small Kitchens: Breville Iced Coffee Maker
This style of iced coffee maker uses a drip method in the same way as a standard filter machine, passing hot water through ground coffee into a tumbler of ice. It couldn't be simpler to operate and once the machine is filled and assembled, it's just a case of pressing the start button.
The accompanying tumbler has useful markers to help measure out the correct amount of water needed to fill the reservoir, as well as how much ice to add. You can control the strength and length of the drink by varying the amount of coffee you add to the filter. Once you're satisfied with the volume of coffee dispensed, a simple sliding lever halts the coffee flow, allowing you to add milk or more ice as you wish.
While it's lightweight and easy to pop away into a cupboard, the plastic build does feel a bit on the flimsy side.
Key specifications
8. Best Budget Iced Coffee Maker: Salter 2 in 1 Iced Coffee Maker
Like the Breville Iced Coffee Maker above, this is essentially a filter machine. It produces both hot and cold coffee, hence the name, and there's no need to use paper filters. Coming complete with nifty to-go cups, the model offers one tall beaker with a straw for iced drinks and an insulated travel mug.
The instructions specify 180g of ice cubes which, if you don't want to get the weighing scales out every time you want an iced coffee, works out as a full glass. Despite this large amount of ice, once the machine had completed its cycle (about three minutes dripping plus a recommended two minutes resting), the ice had all but completely melted and the resulting, diluted coffee was still not quite cool enough at 8C to 9C. There's no way I could see to modify the settings, so I'm not quite sure how you'd reduce the coffee volume in order to accommodate adding milk.
This style makes a good choice for a compact kitchen and despite its economical price tag, it's attractive and sturdily put together.
Key specifications
Iced Coffee Maker FAQs
Is an iced coffee machine worth it?
Yes, if you drink iced coffee frequently and enjoy well-brewed, non-watery results, then it's worth it. However, you can definitely make great iced coffee without one.
Can I make iced coffee without a coffee machine?
Yes, you can serve any coffee over ice but you'll need to start with a full-flavoured base that can hold up to adding milk and or ice.
Can I make iced coffee using a coffee pod machine?
Yes, though if using the original-style capsules, I'd recommend using two per brew so the coffee flavours don't get lost.
What kind of coffee roast is best for iced coffee?
Medium to dark roasts often work well for iced coffee as they retain their flavour when chilled and diluted. However, lighter, fruitier roasts can also be delicious if you prefer a brighter iced coffee.
What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
Iced coffee is typically made with hot-brewed coffee that has been poured over ice. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. This slow extraction process results in a coffee that is generally smoother and less acidic.
Barista Benji says: 'Cold brew is great for people who enjoy the natural flavours of coffee and of course, coming from the fridge it shouldn't dilute much further when added to a big cup of ice.'
How do I make iced coffee without it getting watery?
Brew stronger coffee than usual, or allow it to cool a little before adding ice.